The type of photography that you are planning to use is an important decision factor. Here we have evaluated the Carl Zeiss Distagon T3,5/18 and the Canon 16-35mm f2.8L USM for their suitability to various photography scenarios:
Size and Weight Comparison
The size of a lens is a crucial factor to consider when comparing two lenses. Canon 16-35mm f2.8L USM is the longer of the two lenses at 103mm. The Carl Zeiss Distagon T3,5/18 with a length of 84mm, is 19mm shorter. On the other hand, the Carl Zeiss Distagon T3,5/18 has a larger diameter of 87mm compared to the Canon 16-35mm f2.8L USM's 84mm diameter.
The weight of a lens is equally significant as its external dimensions, particularly if you intend to handhold your camera and lens combination for extended periods. Carl Zeiss Distagon T3,5/18 weighs 470g, which means it is 130g (21%) lighter than the Canon 16-35mm f2.8L USM which has a weight of 600g.
Filter Threads
The Carl Zeiss Distagon T3,5/18 has a filter size of 82mm whereas the Canon 16-35mm f2.8L USM has a 77mm diameter. Larger filters are generally more expensive than the smaller ones given all the other features are equal.
Below are links to the 82mm filters that we recommend you to consider for the Carl Zeiss Distagon T3,5/18:
And these are the 77mm filters that we recommend for the Canon 16-35mm f2.8L USM:
Lens Mounts
Both the Carl Zeiss Distagon T3,5/18 and the Canon 16-35mm f2.8L USM has the same Canon EF lens mount. Some of the latest released cameras that are compatible with the Canon EF lenses are Blackmagic URSA 12K LF, Z CAM E2-F6 II 6K and Z CAM E2-S6 II 6K.
Carl Zeiss Distagon T3,5/18 is also available in the Pentax KAF and Nikon F (FX) mounts.
Focal Range
Carl Zeiss Distagon T3,5/18 is a prime lens with fixed focal lenght of 18mm. When it is mounted on an APS-C sensor camera with 1.6x crop, it provides a 35mm (FF) equivalent of
28.8mm.
On the other hand, the Canon 16-35mm f2.8L USM has a focal range of 16-35mm and 2.2X zoom ratio . When it is mounted on an APS-C sensor camera with 1.6x crop, it provides a 35mm (FF) equivalent of 25.6 - 56mm.
